NO MORE MR NICE GUY: MOSIMANE

Mamelodi Sundowns’ next opponents have been warned, coach Pitso Mosimane has challenged his side to drop the Mr Nice Guy attitude and go for the jugular.

“Jingles” said this after seeing the Brazilians beat Chippa United by only one goal in the 1-0 win at Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Saturday. Bafana BaStyle had plenty of chances to put daylight between them and the Chilli Boys. But Sundowns, somehow, only left East London with Gaston Sirino’s GOAL.

“Sundowns is such a nice team,” Mosimane said. “My players are good people. I need shrewd players. We should kill the game as early as the first 20 minutes. When my team feels like they have an opportunity to play, they like to play and they forget about winning the match. Because they find openings, they keep enjoying themselves. I was afraid of this game.

I told them at halftime that this game might come back and bite us. We did well and Denis Onyango is showing that he is one of the best goalkeepers in Africa.”

Sundowns are six points behind log-leaders Bidvest Wits. But the Tshwane giants have two games in hand. The Brazilians shift their focus from the Absa Premiership to the Telkom Knockout this weekend.

Sundowns will visit Baroka FC with the aim of booking a place in the semifinals. This match is an opportunity for Andile Jali to continue with his storming performances that have seen him move closer to being at his best.

“He is getting there slowly,” Mosimane said. “He hasn’t reached his maximum play. He is getting there. He and Hlompho Kekana are showing experience and leadership. He will get better, with time. He is a Bafana Bafana player. He is a good player. Last week he had one chance to score. Tonight (against Chippa) he hit the post and had another one he could have crossed to someone else. As a central midfielder, this means he is slowly coming out of his shell and is getting the right timing to get into the box”

“Look at the goal we scored against Wits, Kekana found the right timing to go inside. Jali right timing tonight. They are showing experience.”